Agricola: love him or hate him?
Petr Donskoy
Polybius once wrote that what separated biography from history was that it was subjective. 1 When reading Tacitus’ Agricola , these words seem apposite . Britain’s most famous Roman would have been almost entirely lost to history were it not for a biography written by his son- in-law Tacitus. As a historical source, this biography poses a major challenge, being a eulogy to a beloved relative, written in the old Roman tradition to explore the legacy that Agricola left to posterity. Keeping this in mind and considering the virtual absence of other sources on Agricola’s life, except for a passing reference in Dio Cassius and a piece of lead piping from Chester proving the man’s existence, we must tread carefully with the information given to us by the author. Speaking of Agricola’s predecessors, Tacitus seems to minimi ze their role in some respects through ‘synkrisis’ (contrast), 2 as with Quintus Cerialis who possibly advanced into Scotland before Agricola, or Sextus Frontinus who conquered the Silures, without wholly taking away their credit. 3 On the other hand, Tacitus would not have been himself if he had not used the occasion to pose and explore bigger questions. How can a good Roman, wishing to contribute to the greater good, live an honourable life under a bad emperor? And what are the limits to what he can achieve? It is important to not lose sight of this double purpose to understand limitations of the text as a historical source. As a eulogy, the text also poses another challenge to the modern reader. It is difficult for us to see it through the eyes of a Roman citizen, and we may struggle to empathize with someone at the service of Roman imperialism. Tacitus further complicates matters by painting a rather attractive portrait of Agricola’s opponent, the Caledonian chieftain Calgachus. Agricola was born to a noble family, and his father Julius Graecinus was a senator noted for his pursuit of rhetoric and philosophy. These virtues led Graecinus to disobey emperor Caligula’s orders, who put him to death. Young Agricola was thus raised by his mother, a woman of rectitu de, who tempered her son’s dangerous interest in philosophy. Eventually, age and reason prevailed over early passions, giving way to restraint and moderation, Agricola’s defining traits. Lacking other sources on Agricola, we cannot be sure whether this portrayal is fully accurate. What is obvious, however, is that it is these qualities for which Agricola’s life is chosen by Tacitus to take on the big questions mentioned above.
1 Polybius 10.21 and 8.10. 2 McGing 1982. 3 Woodhead 1948.
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